Extra grip put on track for 600

Sticky substance aims to promote passes on high side.

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR is trying to inject some excitement into Charlotte Motor Speedway, where recent races have been relatively predictable, even dull: When a lead car breaks free from the pack, it has been nearly impossible to catch.

Nobody could catch Kyle Larson when he was running in clean air during the first t wo 20-lap segments of the NASCAR All-Star race last weekend. And pole winner Martin Truex Jr. led 392 of 400 laps in winning last year’s Coca-Cola 600. That’s not necessarily the racing fans want to see.

So stock car’s governing body added a layer of traction compound called JP1 to the track’s top groove this week in an effort to promote more passing at the CocaCola 600 on Sunday night.

The sticky substance is designed to promote better grip and has been used by NASCAR on Bristol Motor Speedway’s concrete surface, but never on an asphalt track like Charlotte.

“We talked through this opportunity with the track, teams, drivers and Goodyear,” NASCAR vice president of competition Scott Miller said in an email.

“There was agreement that this process would enhance the racing we see at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and ultimately would make for an exciting Coca-Cola 600.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the Charlotte track hasn’t aged well since it was last paved. The fastest part remains the lower groove, and that’s where drivers generally run.

The idea behind using the compound on the upper portion of the track is to create a sticky groove that is just as fast as the lower groove, luring drivers to attempt more passes up high.

Kevin Harvick, the pole winner for the Coca-Cola 600, called it a good plan.

“The only groove that was there for the All-Star race was the bottom groove,” Harvick said.

“I went up there and tried the middle and tried the top, and while you could go through there, you just couldn’t make any speed like you could on the bottom. ... It’s definitely going to make a difference, and hopefully it widens the racetrack out and we can have grooves all over the track.”

Earnhardt likes the idea but questions whether it will have an impact Sunday.

The JP1 substance typically works its best when the temperature is hot. Since the Coca-Cola 600 is run mostly after dark, Earnhardt said the change could have more of an impact on the October race in Charlotte, which has been moved to a day race.

“Running this race during the day is probably the best decision,” Earnhardt said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how that works out for the track. I certainly think that’s a good thing, so we’ll see how it works out.”

But Earnhardt expec ts dr ive r s t o t r y t he upper groove anyway Sunday, especially if it becomes difficult to catch the leader.

“I ’ m s u r e i n t h e r a c e some guys will get up there and start running through there, it’s going to improve the speed in those grooves. Hopefully it does,” Earnhardt said.

“We move all over the place looking for speed and grip (at Kansas). It’s a lot of fun.”